Ramoowalia concerened over Punjabi youths trapped in Algeria

Jalandhar, Sep 2 (UNI) The Lok Bhalai Party president and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today urged the External Affairs Ministry to direct the Indian Embassy in Algeria for ensuring early release of about 40 Punjabi youths who are trapped in in that country.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Ramoowalia said that these youths were taken to that country in April this year by travel agents for ''well paid jobs'', however, they were later left there at the mercy of God without job and documents.

He said that the external affairs ministry should direct the embassy authorities to issue emergency travelling slips to these trapped youths and arrange their early and safe repatriation.

Mr Ramoowalia said that the clandestine business of unauthorised immigration of job seeking youths had become a menace in Punjab and the state government and the political parties are doing nothing to curb this trend and book guilty travel agents.

He said that these travel agents had ''looted'' over Rs 10,000 crore from families of such youths during a period of 15 years.

''Stern measures are required to be taken against these travel agents,''he added.

Mr Ramoowalia said that his party would organise a conference at Bagha Purana near Moga on September 15 to highlight plight of such youths.

UNI SS HS KR RK1823